Monticello gets bids to remove controversial debris pile

MONTICELLO — It only cost $5,000 to knock down the former village justice court, but now Monticello may have to pay $77,000 at the very least to remove debris leftover from the October demolition.

Andrew Beam

MONTICELLO — It only cost $5,000 to knock down the former village justice court, but now Monticello may have to pay $77,000 at the very least to remove debris leftover from the October demolition.

The village received five bids from vendors Thursday to remove the pile of debris on Pleasant Street, which has been left there since the state Department of Labor prevented the village from disposing of it because it contained asbestos.

However, Village Manager Ray Nargizian said one company already was knocked out of the running, as it did not file proper paperwork with its bid documents. He declined to say which one it was.

Village Engineer John Fuller will review the documents, according to Nargizian, and make his recommendation to the village.

Nargizian was not sure when the village would select a vendor, but said whichever one is selected must then go before the village Board of Trustees for a vote.

Nargizian previously said the village will choose the lowest bidder that can do the best work.

Nargizian also said the state Department of Environmental Conservation and the Department of Labor will be overseeing the process.

"No corners will be cut," Nargizian said.

The road to getting the debris cleaned up has been a long one ever since the justice court was taken down when Mayor Gordon Jenkins ordered the court building be demolished in October.

Just days after the demolition, members of the crew that took the building down were arrested and charged by the state with illegally dumping the debris at a property of Fairground Road.

Sullivan County District Attorney James Farrell then prevented the debris from being moved in April, saying it was evidence in a criminal investigation. A week later, he gave the approval to the village to remove it.

Among those arrested by the state were Sam Kearney, who was hired by Jenkins, and Mike Soto, who was contracted by Kearney and accused of illegally dumping the building materials.

Both Kearney and Soto said they were told the building did not contain asbestos.